Plans are underway to integrate battery-powered trams into Nottingham’s public transport system, potentially linking the city to East Midlands Airport. As the current fleet approaches the end of its operational life, the CEO of Tramlink, Tim Hesketh, has indicated that battery technology could play a key role in future tram network expansions.
Birmingham’s successful implementation of battery-powered trams serves as an inspiring model. The city introduced battery technology in 2019, retrofitting its existing trams with lithium-ion batteries. These vehicles can operate on battery power alone in sections without overhead lines, enhancing both efficiency and reducing visual impact. Similar developments are occurring in Coventry, which is investing in a battery-powered light rail network. This shift has garnered interest globally, with battery trams having been in service in parts of Florence since 2021.
Tim Hesketh expressed optimism about the integration of battery-powered trams into Nottingham’s future transport landscape. “We’ve worked with various universities looking at the feasibility of a light rail link out to East Midlands Airport,” he stated. He emphasized the advantages of battery technology, noting, “When it has an overhead rail, it charges and runs, but it can then go for quite long distances on battery alone. It makes it more efficient in that way and less intrusive on the landscape as well.”
A comprehensive study is set to conclude in 2024, which will explore the best options for extending Nottingham’s tram network. While East Midlands Airport was not explicitly named among the three potential expansion locations, discussions about connecting trams to the airport have been ongoing for years. Hesketh believes that battery-powered trams could enhance the feasibility of this connection, suggesting, “We could run without overhead power and have maybe just two stops between Clifton and the airport.”
The CEO highlighted that planning must consider Nottingham’s future growth, not just its current state. He pointed out the need for urban transport solutions that align with anticipated developments around the airport and the surrounding industrial areas. “If we are looking at developments around the airport, around Ratcliffe-on-Soar, what’s happening to those industrial spaces in the future, you need to think about the urban transport solution at the same time,” he explained.
Nottingham’s current generation of trams has been in service since 2004, with Tramlink managing the network since the last extension began operating in 2015. Hesketh noted that some of the trams from the initial phase are nearing the end of their service life, presenting an opportunity to consider introducing battery-powered replacements.
He anticipates that certain vehicles may need replacing within the next five to ten years, coinciding with the end of Tramlink’s contract in 2034, when responsibility for the tram network will shift to the East Midlands Combined County Authority. “If you’re expanding the fleet because you’re expanding the network, do you think about what sort of vehicle you would choose to bring in which suits the broader network?” Hesketh questioned, underscoring the importance of strategic planning for a sustainable transport future.
As Nottingham moves forward with these considerations, the potential for battery-powered trams could significantly reshape the city’s transport infrastructure, paving the way for more environmentally friendly and efficient public transport options.
